Supporting No Lost Generation (NLG) education programmes in Jordan 

Children, adolescents & youth

Supporting No Lost Generation (NLG) education programmes in Jordan 

BMZ supports the UNICEF nationwide No Lost Generation (NLG) education programme.

Contact details

Submitted by

Dr. Ralf Schröder, Head of Division 222, Crisis management, transitional development assistance, reconstruction, infrastructure in crisis situations, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Email: [email protected] 

Websitewww.bmz.de/en 

Social: @BMZ_Bund

Introduction to the project

Location

Jordan

Duration

2018-2021

Description

The impact of the ongoing Syrian crisis on Jordan remains immense. Jordan officially hosts 670,000 Syrian refugees and is facing strained social services, overburdened infrastructure and increasing tension, mainly between Jordan´s most disadvantaged communities and the refugees. Around half of the 234,000 Syrian children and adolescents in the country have no access to the formal education system. An entire generation of children is being shaped by a persistent lack of opportunity and could be lost forever, with profound long-term consequences for the whole region and beyond. 

To mitigate this harsh situation, BMZ supports the UNICEF nationwide No Lost Generation (NLG) education programme with the establishment of Makani centres. In Makani centres vulnerable children in refugee camps and host communities get access to integrated and inclusive non-formal education as well as child and social protection services. Urgent needs of vulnerable children and women are met with specific child protection and psychosocial support measures, including case management. 

Main activities of the Good Practice

15 Makani Centres are located in the refugee camps of Zaatari and Azraq and the other 17 in host communities. Activities of the BMZ-funded education programme in Jordan include: 

  • Equitable learning support services for children and adolescents.
  • Access to community-based child protection for boys and girls.
  • Life skills trainings and age-appropriate, gender-responsive skills building opportunities.
  • Psychosocial support, including case management services for violence, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and other protection issues.
  • Provision of transportation facilities for children in the host communities.

Partners

UNICEF

Challenges and how they were overcome

One of the main challenges in implementing the NLG programme is transferring UNICEF’s services in non-formal education in particular in camps to the formal education system. The Ministry of Education is willing to take on these activities but has limited capacities to make a place in a formal school available for every student. Other demand- and supply-driven barriers to education such as child labour or early marriages continue to exist. Hence, providing a learning environment to students, even for a limited amount of time per week, is a chance for every refugee child to get some form of access to education.

Results of the Good Practice 

The services offered through 32 Makani centres, fully financed by German contributions throughout 2019, have already reached 17,861 vulnerable children and adolescents in Jordan, regardless of their nationality. These contributed to improving the living conditions of Syrian refugees and vulnerable local population groups. 

The NLG programme in Jordan identifies needs of vulnerable children and women that are particularly urgent (as for example cases of SGBV, unaccompanied children or children with disabilities), responding with specific interventions to create a protective environment that prevents exploitation, abuse and neglect of children. 4,675 people have been targeted for additional psychosocial support and case management services.